Method and system for establishing a telecommunications link

ABSTRACT

A method for establishing a telecommunications link (C 1 , C 2 , C 3 ) for a user to whom a first communications terminal is allocated. According to said method, an allocation information is made available to a control program running on a server for establishing the telecommunications link in which information a first allocation is defined for the first communications terminal as specified by the user. The first allocation can define an allocation of a second communications terminal to the first communications terminal. The telecommunications link can be established in accordance with the first allocation, using the second communications terminal instead of the first communications terminal. The allocation information can include a second allocation by which the first communications terminal can be signaled as being the only terminal used by the user in the established telecommunications link.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is the United States national stage under 35 U.S.C.§371 of PCT International Patent Application No. PCT/EP2014/001414,filed on May 26, 2014, and claiming priority to German patent applicantno. 10 2013 008 932.8, filed on May 24, 2013.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

Embodiments relate to methods and systems for establishing atelecommunication connection for a user to whom a firsttelecommunication terminal is assigned.

Background of the Related Art

The integration of telecommunication networks and data networks isbecoming increasingly important. Telecommunication networks are usedprimarily for communication by telecommunication subscribers usingtelecommunication terminals such as telephones. Data networks are usedprimarily for networking computers, for example PCs with servers.Methods and arrangements whereby applications installed on computerscontrol and monitor communication systems and communication connectionsare generally known as CTI solutions (CTI=Computer TelephonyIntegration). Both communication system ports and connections betweenports can be controlled and monitored in this manner. The respectiveconnections are temporary communication channels between two or moresubscribers on one or more communication systems.

When a CTI solution is operating, data with control and statusinformation are transmitted each time between a communication system anda CTI application (CTI application program). To this end, communicationsystems have special interfaces for the data exchange: CTI interfaces.The respective applications or PCs likewise have corresponding CTIinterfaces for this data exchange. For this, the CTI interfaces of thecommunication system and those of the application are connected with oneanother via a data line or a data network. Because the maximum number ofCTI interfaces in a communication system is limited, a telephony serveris often connected between the communication system and theapplications.

The publication WO 98/51092 A1 “Computer Telephony Integration Gateway”shows a public communication network with several communication systemsand a private communication network with several domains, each of whichfeatures computers with applications for controlling and/or monitoringthe public communication network's resources. The arrangement shownfeatures a “CTI gateway” as a conversion device, which changes the typeof data sent for controlling and/or monitoring resources from the publiccommunication network to the private communication network, so thatthese data appear as the data from one single public communicationnetwork, and conversely changes the data that are sent by theapplications from the private communication network to the publiccommunication network, as though they had been sent from a privatecommunication network with only one application.

DE 101 59 636 B4 describes a method for controlling and/or monitoringresources and connections using the exchange of data betweencommunication systems and at least one application, wherein the datahave identifiers that differentiate the resources and the connections,and the identifiers of the resources are converted during the exchangesuch that they present themselves as the identifier of one singlecommunication system with subscriber connections for the one or for eachapplication, characterized in that each of the identifiers of theconnection between resources of different communication systemscomprises one local connection number (call ID) of the communicationsystem that participates in the connection and one global connectionnumber (call ID) and in that through the conversion the globalconnection number (call ID) is transmitted to the application such thatit cannot be differentiated by the application from a local connectionnumber (call ID).

Available CTI features already include preferred device applications,with which the user can dynamically set up a terminal (preferred device)on which he can make and receive incoming and outgoing calls from hisoffice number at a preset time, without having to be in the office. Thispreferred device can be located anywhere and can use nodes in theinterconnected network or in the central office.

For example, One Number Service is known to be a preferred deviceapplication with OpenScape Voice. In this application, in order to usethe features of One Number Service, the application must have complexknowledge about which preferred device the office number is currentlyconnected to.

Similar features are available using the CallMe Service with OpenScapeOffice. However, in OpenScape Office, features such as consultationcalls, call swapping, transfers, call records, etc. are not availablethrough the CallMe Service.

With preferred device applications such as the One Number Service withOpenScape Voice and the CallMe Service with OpenScape Office, the usercan dynamically set up a terminal (preferred device) on which he canmake and receive incoming and outgoing calls from his office number at apreset time, without having to be in the office. This preferred devicecan be located anywhere: in its own node, in the interconnected network,or in the central office.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To date, features such as consultation calls, call swapping, transfers,etc. for a preferred device configuration have been handled through CTIin such a way that the application controlling the feature must haveknowledge about the preferred device.

In this regard, it would be helpful to have a solution that now allowseven high-level applications to run features easily and efficientlythrough CTI, without complex knowledge of the various—and dynamicallymodifiable—preferred devices.

Embodiments may provide a method of establishing a telecommunicationconnection for a user to whom a first communication terminal isassigned, comprising the following steps: a piece of assignmentinformation is made available to a control program running on at leastone CTI server for the purpose of establishing the telecommunicationconnection, and in that information a first assignment is defined forthe first communication terminal as specified by the user, with thefirst assignment defining the assignment of a second communicationterminal to the first communication terminal; and the telecommunicationconnection is established by the control program according to the firstassignment, using the second communication terminal instead of the firstcommunication terminal; characterized in that the assignment informationdefines a second assignment whereby the first communication terminal isreported to the control program as being the only terminal used by theuser in the established telecommunication connection.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The figures show:

FIG. 1 schematically, a conventional system for implementing a preferreddevice (One Number Service with OpenScape Voice);

FIG. 2 schematically, another conventional system for implementing apreferred device (CallMe Service with OpenScape Office);

FIG. 3 schematically, the dynamic binding of the call in the system fromFIG. 2;

FIG. 4 schematically, the relationships between calls, devices, andconnections according to the CSTA standard;

FIG. 5 schematically, a CSTA Call Control Event Report used in thesystem from FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 schematically, CSTA Call Control Services used in the system fromFIG. 2: (a) connection changes and (b) the corresponding event reportfor the case of a “Consultation Service Request” [source: OpenScapeVoice];

FIG. 7 schematically, a simplified CSTA Call Control Event Report usedto execute an embodiment of a method according to the invention in thesystem from FIG. 2;

FIG. 8 schematically, a so-called dynamic binding of the embodiment fromFIG. 7;

FIG. 9 schematically, a CSTA Call Control Event Report 94 for asimplified CSTA Call Control Service, used to execute an embodiment of amethod according to the invention in the system from FIG. 2; and

FIG. 10 the devices that are supported in OpenScape Office for theCallMe Service.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As previously noted, embodiments may provide a method of establishing atelecommunication connection for a user to whom a first communicationterminal is assigned, comprising the following steps: a piece ofassignment information is made available to a control program running onat least one CTI server for the purpose of establishing thetelecommunication connection, and in that information a first assignmentis defined for the first communication terminal as specified by theuser, with the first assignment defining the assignment of a secondcommunication terminal to the first communication terminal; and thetelecommunication connection is established by the control programaccording to the first assignment, using the second communicationterminal instead of the first communication terminal; characterized inthat the assignment information defines a second assignment whereby thefirst communication terminal is reported to the control program as beingthe only terminal used by the user in the established telecommunicationconnection.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, whose features canalso be combined with the features of other embodiments of thisinvention, the at least one CTI server receives input from a user thatdefines the user's second communication terminal.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, whose features canalso be combined with the features of other embodiments of thisinvention, the second communication terminal comprises a preferreddevice.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, whose features canalso be combined with the features of other embodiments of thisinvention, the at least one CTI server calls up a data structure thatdefines the first assignment for the first communication terminal.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, whose features canalso be combined with the features of other embodiments of thisinvention, in the first assignment the second communication terminal isdefined together with the first communication terminal.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, whose features canalso be combined with the features of other embodiments of thisinvention, the first communication terminal comprises a calling device.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, whose features canalso be combined with the features of other embodiments of thisinvention, the first communication terminal comprises a physicalcommunication terminal as specified by the user.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, whose features canalso be combined with the features of other embodiments of thisinvention, calls are initiated on the preferred device instead of thephysical communication terminal.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, whose features canalso be combined with the features of other embodiments of thisinvention, the data structure defines the second assignment, and in thesecond assignment only the physical communication terminal is defined asa calling device.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, whose features canalso be combined with the features of other embodiments of thisinvention, when the control program attempts to initiate a call to thephysical communication terminal, the at least one CTI serverautomatically initiates a call to the preferred device, based on thefirst assignment, wherein the call made in the control program appearsas a call to the physical communication terminal, based on the secondassignment.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, whose features canalso be combined with the features of other embodiments of thisinvention, in the data structure in the first assignment a firstconnection ID is defined, and the first connection ID reports a call tothe second communication terminal.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, whose features canalso be combined with the features of other embodiments of thisinvention, in the data structure in the second assignment a secondconnection ID is defined, and the second connection ID reports a call tothe first communication terminal.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, whose features canalso be combined with the features of other embodiments of thisinvention, the first communication terminal and the second communicationterminal are dynamically linked.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, whose features canalso be combined with the features of other embodiments of thisinvention, the at least one CTI server is configured such that, inresponse to an instruction from the control program, it runs a CSTA CallControl Service, wherein the data structure in the first representationdefines the first communication terminal together with a firstconnection ID as an existing call and defines the first communicationterminal together with a second connection ID as an initiated call,wherein the data structure in the second assignment defines a thirdconnection ID as an existing call and a fourth connection ID as aninitiated call, and wherein the third and fourth connection IDs areassociated with the first communication terminal and correspond todifferent calls.

The invention further includes a computer program product or computerprogram for establishing a telecommunication connection, to be used inexecuting a method according to one of the preceding claims. Theinvention further includes a machine-readable data carrier with acomputer program product stored on the data carrier.

The invention further includes a system for establishing atelecommunication connection for a user to whom a first communicationterminal is assigned, comprising: a CTI server; a first communicationterminal assigned to the user; a second communication terminal that canbe assigned to the first communication terminal; and a control programrunning on the CTI server for the purpose of establishing thetelecommunication connection, in which a piece of assignment informationis generated that defines a first assignment for the first communicationterminal as specified by the user, with the first assignment definingthe assignment of a second communication terminal to the firstcommunication terminal; wherein the control program is configured suchthat the telecommunication connection is established by the controlprogram according to the first assignment, using the secondcommunication terminal instead of the first communication terminal. Thesystem is characterized in that the assignment information defines asecond assignment, whereby the first communication terminal is reportedto the control program as being the only terminal used by the user inthe established telecommunication connection.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, whose features canalso be combined with the features of other embodiments of thisinvention, the assignment information includes a data structure thatdefines the first assignment for the first communication terminal,whereby preferably in the first assignment the second communicationterminal is defined together with the first communication terminal.

Clearly, the system should preferably be arranged or configured suchthat the described various ways to execute the method can be carriedout. The system therefore includes the features needed to carry out thecorresponding steps of the method, even when this is not explicitlyshown.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, whose features canalso be combined with the features of other embodiments of thisinvention, the at least one CTI server receives input from a user thatdefines the user's second communication terminal.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, whose features canalso be combined with the features of other embodiments of thisinvention, the second communication terminal comprises a preferreddevice.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, whose features canalso be combined with the features of other embodiments of thisinvention, the at least one CTI server calls up a data structure thatdefines the first assignment for the first communication terminal.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, whose features canalso be combined with the features of other embodiments of thisinvention, in the first assignment the second communication terminal isdefined together with the first communication terminal.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, whose features canalso be combined with the features of other embodiments of thisinvention, the first communication terminal comprises a calling device.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, whose features canalso be combined with the features of other embodiments of thisinvention, the first communication terminal comprises a physicalcommunication terminal as specified by the user.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, whose features canalso be combined with the features of other embodiments of thisinvention, calls are initiated on the preferred device instead of thephysical communication terminal.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, whose features canalso be combined with the features of other embodiments of thisinvention, the data structure defines the second assignment, and in thesecond assignment only the physical communication terminal is defined asa calling device.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, whose features canalso be combined with the features of other embodiments of thisinvention, when the control program attempts to initiate a call to thephysical communication terminal, the at least one CTI serverautomatically initiates a call to the preferred device, based on thefirst assignment, wherein the call appears in the control program as acall to the physical communication terminal, based on the secondassignment.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, whose features canalso be combined with the features of other embodiments of thisinvention, a first connection ID is defined in the data structure in thefirst assignment, and the first connection ID reports a call to thefirst communication terminal.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, whose features canalso be combined with the features of other embodiments of thisinvention, a second connection ID is defined in the data structure inthe second assignment, and the second connection ID reports a call tothe first communication terminal.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, whose features canalso be combined with the features of other embodiments of thisinvention, the first communication terminal and the second communicationterminal are dynamically linked.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, whose features canalso be combined with the features of other embodiments of thisinvention, the at least one CTI server is configured such that, inresponse to a notification from the control program, it runs a CSTA CallControl Service, wherein the data structure in the first assignmentdefines the first communication terminal together with a firstconnection ID as an existing call and defines the first communicationterminal together with a second connection ID as an initiated call,wherein the data structure in the second assignment defines a thirdconnection ID as an existing call and a fourth connection ID as aninitiated call, and wherein the third and fourth connection IDs areassociated with the first communication terminal and correspond todifferent calls.

The invention provides a method that now allows even high-levelapplications to run features easily and efficiently through CTI, withoutcomplex knowledge of the various—and dynamically modifiable—preferreddevices.

The preferred modelling of the current (dynamically modifiable)configuration without a physical representation facilitates the CTIcontrol of preferred device configurations using high-level applicationswithout the complex knowledge of the specific preferred deviceconfiguration that has been needed until now. The user can use one ormore preferred devices at the same time, without his applicationsrequiring special information about the activation, location(particularly in the IP environment), and type of the current preferreddevice. This is accomplished by representing or assigning a uniquelogical CTI device (office number device) with simultaneous control ofthat device.

This gives the following new features to high-level applicationscontrolling preferred device configurations:

-   -   improved user control;    -   simpler implementation algorithm;    -   independence of device type (office number device and preferred        device);    -   simultaneous operation of multiple high-level applications is        possible;    -   parallel terminal control operations are possible.

Embodiments are described below in more detail based on preferredexemplary embodiments and with reference to the figures.

Examples of embodiments of the invention are illustrated usingappropriately configured CTI-based telecommunication systems,particularly OpenScape Voice or OpenScape Office. Such systems areconfigured according to the CSTA (Computer-Supported TelephonyApplications) standard from ECMA. However, other systems can obviouslybe used as the basis for implementing the invention.

Unless stated otherwise, any design features of the system, combinationsof components, method steps, or other techniques disclosed here withrespect to embodiments of this invention can be combined with any or allother design features of the system, combinations of components, methodsteps, or other techniques disclosed here.

A. Current Implementation of OpenScape Voice and OpenScape Office.

For preferred device applications such as the One Number Service withOpenScape Voice and the CallMe Service with OpenScape Office, thedefinition of a preferred device is basically the same (see FIG. 1 andFIG. 2).

FIG. 1 shows, schematically, a conventional system for implementing apreferred device corresponding to One Number Service (ONS) withOpenScape Voice (OSV). The telecommunication system 100 includes acontrol program (subsystem) 102, which is part of the software and inwhich a number of subscriber IDs 104 are registered as part of the ONS.

They can be for preferred devices, internal One Number Devices (ONDs)10, or external ONDs 12. External connections 106 can be establishedbetween subscriber IDs 104 and external ONDs 12, described in detailbelow. External ONDs 12 are corresponding associated (non-registered)devices. In addition, internal connections 108 can be establishedbetween subscriber IDs 104 and (registered) ONDs 10. The latter caninclude telephones, MLHQ pilots (a component called “Multiple HuntGroup” in OpenScape Voice or HiPath 8000 from Unify GmbH & Co KG), orOSMO clients (another component in OSV). One Number Service should berun not only with internal devices (internal binding) but also withexternal devices (hotel phones, mobile phones).

The subsystem 102 includes a media server 110, which implements an MLHGhold queue (MLHG=Multiple Hunt Group, planned for OSV). The media server110 is used to insert tones or announcements into the call. Forapplication-controlled calls made with SIP terminals, it may benecessary to initiate a ring tone or busy signal, which is done with themedia server 110. All calls are made through the media server, which caninsert a tone, message, or similar element into the conversation.

The telecommunication system 100 includes a softswitch(software-implemented switch) 112 that is designed for communicationwith the media server 110 through the MGCP protocol and with theinternal ONDs 10 through the SIP or uaCSTA protocol (User Agent CSTA,i.e. CSTA through SIP; seehttp://wiki.siemens-enterprise.com/wiki/uaCSTA). The softswitch 112 isdesigned to establish connections with additional devices, as describedbelow in more detail. The softswitch 112 can be used to switch on theSIP terminals through SIP and uaCSTA, internally for ONDs 10, MLHQdevices, OSMO clients, etc.: These are terminals that an OSV canregister.

Terminals 114 are connected to the OSV through SIP and uaCSTA, and a UC(unified communication) application that supports the ONS is generatedwith CSTA and the ONS that is transferred through CSTA. UC (ONS) is animportant component of UC, making it possible for a telephone number tobe reachable everywhere.

The softswitch 112 makes it possible to generate connections 116 withexternal ONDs 12-1 using the SIP protocol through a visited gateway 118and the PSTN 120. Using the SIP-Q protocol through a visited gateway124, the softswitch 112 also allows connections 122 and the availabilityof the softswitch 126 with external ONDs 12-2. The softswitch 112 alsoallows connections 128 using the SIP or SIP-Q protocol and thegeneration of a second OSV softswitch 130 with external ONDs 12-3.

The existing OpenScape Office, on the other hand, is hardware that canalso be configured as a softswitch.

FIG. 2 shows, schematically, another conventional system forimplementing a preferred device (CallMe Service with OpenScape Office).In this case OpenScape Office can be configured as hardware or also as asoftswitch.

As shown in FIG. 2, the telecommunication system 20 can include atelecommunication connection system or control program (here OpenScapeOffice, OSO) 22. One or more CTI servers (not shown), a client PC(laptop) 24, or another computer can be used for the telecommunicationconnection system 22. A user has an ONS device (physical device) 26 inhis office. The user also has an ONS device (OND) 28.

Explanations:

-   -   ONS—A One Number Subscriber Device (ONS device) 26, that has        registered on OpenScape Office (desk phone, office number), is        an existing device with a subscriber ID assigned to OpenScape        Office.    -   OND—A One Number Service Device 28 is the suitable device used        under the ONS that is active for the ONS while a call is        incoming. OND must be a selectable number within the DNS        selection plan. OND can be located anywhere, in OpenScape        Office, in the network, at the hotel.

Definition: Preferred Device=OND

Thus, the ONS device 26 is the office number device and the preferreddevice (OND) 28 is the device dynamically connected in the respectiveconversation (dynamic binding). This preferred device 28 can be locatedanywhere: in its own node, in the interconnected network, or in thecentral office.

EXAMPLE

User A calls User B using his telephone number 510. If User B has theOne Number Service feature activated, User B's telephone number remains510, but behind that number User B is located in a hotel, for example,or is using a cell phone (OND device 28, internal and external binding).The device can be anywhere, the call goes to the telephone number 510,but the subscriber for telephone number 510 is located somewhere elseand wants to receive the call on a device where he is.

To do this, ONS represents the device 26 with the office number and OND28 the device dynamically connected for that call through dynamicbinding.

OpenScape Voice has a 1:n assignment, whereby multiple preferred devicesor ONDs 28 are possible for one subscriber at the same time. It ispossible to decide which preferred device should be used. OpenScapeOffice, on the other hand, has a 1:1 assignment, meaning that once adevice is selected, it is always used.

FIG. 3 shows, schematically, the dynamic binding of calls in the systemfrom FIG. 2. If there is no call for the ONS 26, then OND 28 is also notlogically connected with the ONS 26. This occurs only when a call ismade or received. If the OND 28 is located within the switch 22, theconnection can also be made statically. However, if the OND 28 islocated outside of the figure shown, the OND 28 must be reached throughthe trunk. The trunk is the targeted resource, it is determined whichtrunk is active for the ONS 26, which is referred to as dynamic binding.The preferred device consequently gives the user the identity of the ONSsubscriber instead of his own.

Dynamic Binding.

Because of dynamic binding, calls on preferred devices (preferred device28) use the identity of the ONS subscriber instead of the preferreddevice. Dynamic binding makes it possible for the user to be recognizedon the preferred device 28 with his office number. This applies to bothincoming and outgoing calls (see FIG. 3).

In the following example, the user establishes the device D3 as hispreferred device 28. Dynamic binding of the office number device (D1)takes place as the call is made to device D2.

The following abbreviations apply here (and hereafter).

C1, C2 . . . Cn Call (call ID)c Connection status—connectedD1,D2,D3 . . . Dn Subscriber device (device)D1C1 Connection (connection ID)ONS One Number Service Subscriber (office number)

OND One Number Service Device PD Preferred Device

D1 is the ONS, office phone

D2 is the caller

D3 is the preferred device.

If D1 calls D2 or D2 calls D1, then the voice path (among other things)runs between D2 and D3, and because of the application with dynamicbinding, D1 is switched into the conversation (whereby the dashed-linearrow in FIG. 3 should show the logical connection between D1 and D3).

As shown in FIG. 3, connections D1C1 and D3C1 are dynamically bound. D1,D2, or D3 is the device, C1 is the call, and the link between them isthe connection (see also FIG. 4).

Connection

A connection (e.g., D1C1) is a relationship in a determined sub-domainbetween a CSTA device (D1, D2, D3 . . . Dn) and a call (C1, C2 . . .Cn), in which this CSTA device (D1, D2, D3 . . . Dn) is involved. Thisconnection relationship can be monitored as well as manipulated. FIG. 4shows the relationships between calls 40, devices 42, 42′, andconnections 44, 44′ according to the CSTA standard.

Monitoring and manipulating these connections are the basis for CallControl Services (such as Clear Connection, Answer Call, etc.).Connections are CSTA objects with the following features: ConnectionIDentifier (“Connection ID”).

Every connection that can be monitored and/or controlled is marked inthe service area. For this, each connection is assigned a uniqueidentifier by the switching function. This identifier includes a deviceidentifier and a call identifier. For a call there are as manyconnection identifiers as there are related devices, and for a devicethere are as many connection identifiers as there are related calls. Theconnection IDentifier is unique in a sub-domain and in a single servicearea. It is assigned by the switching function, if either a new callcomes in or a new device is involved in a call. A connection identifiercan change due to various processes (e.g., transfer or conference), inwhich case the switching function transfers the correspondinginformation to the computer function, so it can be transferred from theold identifiers to the new identifiers. The device identifier used inthe connection can be assigned either statically or dynamically by theswitching function.

B. CSTA Call Control Event Report

a) OpenScape Voice

FIG. 5 shows, schematically, a CSTA Call Control Event Report used inthe system from FIG. 2 [source: OpenScape Voice]. The CSTA Event Report50 corresponds to the content of a data structure in which the relevantdevice, call, and connection information is stored. The CSTA EventReport 50 for OpenScape Voice on the office number device D1 (ONS) hereclearly shows which physical preferred device D3 is currently beingused. In FIG. 5 this is represented in field 52 (calling device) by thepipe symbol “|” (=>D1|D3—see FIG. 3).

In CSTA XML, it is shown by a private XML tag:<callingDevice>N<+14084922343>;ond=+16504001800</callingDevice>

The event report shown in FIG. 5 takes place between OpenScape Voice andthe ONS UC application (CSTA plus ONS), as shown at lower left inFIG. 1. The reports are intended for the end user's application.Communication takes place between switch 112 in OpenScape Voice and theUC application in the device 114. This is not shown in the figure, asthe application is already included in OpenScape Office.

The dynamic binding of the ONS device D1 with the preferred device D3 isshown in the event report 50 for OpenScape Voice (FIG. 5) as follows:xml-coded.

D1 is the logical device that runs on D3. The calling device is an ONScomponent. The application therefore knows at any given time to whichphysical device the ONS device is directly dynamically bound.

D4 is now the preferred device. If the conversation takes place on thepreferred device and one wishes to place a consultation call(consultation call request), this occurs through the application, withthe client controlling the conversation and the preferred devicesimultaneously. The application knows that the user D4 has joined theconversation dynamically as a preferred device; it acts as D1 andrequests a consultation call. In this case, according to the prior art,the application sends the signal that a consultation call should takeplace for D1 on device D4.

b) OpenScape Office A CSTA Event Report on the office number device D1(ONS) at present does not occur with the CallMe Service for OpenScapeOffice.

C. CSTA Call Control Services

a) OpenScape Voice

For the application, the inventors have established that the applicationmust know at all times what physics lies behind dynamic binding.However, this is complex and is too expensive for a cost-effectiveapplication. It would be preferable to have multiple applications thatcan use the feature without the expense of having to explain everythingwith dynamic binding (higher implementation cost and expensive). Thereis also the danger of a collision, as can occur when an application isrunning in parallel with a second application if both applications tryto access the preferred device at the same time.

This problem should be solved by inserting a layer between them that hasan additional data structure.

FIG. 6 shows, schematically, CSTA Call Control Services used in thesystem from FIG. 2: (a) connection changes and (b) the correspondingevent report 60 for the case of a “Consultation Service Request”[source: OpenScape Voice].

Connection-oriented CSTA Call Control Services under OSV (also known as:H8K) for the office number device D1 are transmitted while disclosingthe currently connected physical preferred device *(here: D4) (D1|D4).

A consultation call (without ONS addressing to the consulted devicetarget) should be generated. This service holds an existing active callC1 (shown on the left side of FIG. 6(a) and FIG. 6(b), field 62) to adevice in the hold queue and generates a new call C2 from the samedevice (shown on the right side of FIG. 6(a)).

OND format is used for D1 and D2, but not for D3. Thus, OSV should sendan offered event (i.e., offer a call and OSV distributes the call) to D3and let OS v3 select the device for D3 in a deflect request.

D1|D4—ONS Subscriber D1 uses OND D4.

D2|D5—ONS Subscriber D2 uses OND D5.

D3—ONS Subscriber D3 uses OND D6.

D1|D4 and D2|D5 are in Established state. Now D1|D4 holds callbacks withD3.

With a simplified event report for D1 to D3, the presentation issimplified from the application's standpoint. Afterwards, an applicationshould make it possible to have a controlling influence on thisconnection without knowledge of the currently connected dynamicallymodifiable preferred device.

With an additional simplification step, the following can beimplemented:

As stated above, OpenScape Voice has bound the connections to eachother. Binding the connections means that, when a service calls out,that precise connection must be known. In the data structure, theconnection is not bound, only the device. D1 is bound to D3, and a linkcan be formed between connections D1 and D3. If so implemented, twodifferent connections can exist: C1 and C2, in this case. While C1always exists in OpenScape Voice, here C1 and C2 can also exist. Datastorage makes it possible for this to be disconnected, then for just D1and D3 to be linked and not the connection. In this way, theconsultation call from the high-level application can be placed on D1,and the corresponding preferred device D4 is connected based on the datastorage. Subsystem 102 in FIG. 1 is what the high-level applicationsends. D1, the interim layer, internally turns D1 into D4 and wouldplace the consultation call directly to the preferred device. Theconsultation call is placed. (“Please wait” during the call), then backto the conversation or conference call.

For an incoming or outgoing call there is a 1:1 relationship, but if athird subscriber joins in or one is switching back and forth betweensubscribers, it becomes difficult.

According to this embodiment, there is an interim layer that handlesthis task for the application.

Definitions

The automatic conversion of the right column from the office numberdevice to the preferred device (data structure) can take place in theembedded system or in an interim layer. As a result, the service requestis sent from the application to the platform, and the platformrecognizes at the switch whether it was successful (positive or negativeresult).

b) OpenScape Office

Connection-oriented CSTA Call Control Services such as consultationcalls, call swapping, transfers, etc. are currently not supported forthe office number device D1 (ONS) under OpenScape Office's CallMeService.

FIG. 7 shows, schematically, a simplified CSTA Call Control Event Report76 used to execute an embodiment of a method according to the inventionin the system from FIG. 2, in particular a simplified CSTA Call ControlEvent Report at the office number device (ONS). The CSTA Event Report 76corresponds to the content of a data structure in which the relevantdevice, call, and connection information is stored.

The invention solves the problem in which, when the monitoring point isset on the office number device D1 (logical CTI device), the CTImessages, which are generated correspondingly at the platform level andoriented in reference to the preferred device (physical CTI device), areconverted from the physically oriented content to the logical portionsuch that the high-level application sees only the logical CTI device(office number device—ONS) (see FIG. 7, field 74, column 70). Column 70corresponds to a second assignment, and column 72 to a first assignment(see FIG. 5).

In CSTA XML, the conversion takes place as follows:<callingDevice>N<+14084922343>; ond=+16504001800<calling Device>

=> <callingDevice>N<+14084922343></calling Device>

From an application standpoint, this results in a simplifiedpresentation that gives the CTI feature control without having knowledgeabout the currently bound (dynamically modifiable) preferred device.

FIG. 8 shows, schematically, a so-called dynamic binding of theembodiment from FIG. 7. Compared to FIG. 3, here a dynamic bond for thedevices is sufficient. Devices D1 and D3 are dynamically bound(ONS=>PD).

This process allows both the D1C1 and D3C2 connections to be severed.Depending on the implementation, however, C1 can be identical to C2.

FIG. 9 shows, schematically, a CSTA Call Control Event Report 94 for asimplified CSTA Call Control Service, used to execute an embodiment of amethod according to the invention in the system from FIG. 2, inparticular a simplified CSTA Call Control Service on the office numberdevice (ONS) in the case of a Consultation Service Request. The CSTAEvent Report 94 corresponds to the content of a data structure in whichthe relevant device, call, and connection information is stored.

Field 96 shows the device (D1) and the connection (D4C3) for theexisting call (existingCall), and field 98 shows the device (D1) and theconnection (D4C4) for the new call (initiatedCall). Compared to FIG. 6,the invention now allows a high-level application to carry out aconnection-oriented CSTA Call Control Service on the office numberdevice D1 (see FIG. 9—column 90) without knowledge about the currentlyconnected physical preferred device (here: D4 or D1/D4—see FIG. 6).Column 90 corresponds to a second assignment, and column 92 to a firstassignment (see FIG. 6).

Automatic conversion of the right column 90 from the office numberdevice D1 to the preferred device (D1=>D4) and the related call (C1=>C3)in the left column 92 can take place either in the platform or in asuitable piece of middleware.

As for CSTA Call Control Events, the positive and/or negative result isimplemented accordingly. In connection with the conversion describedhere, now preferably status data relevant to CSTA Call Control Services,for the office number device (ONS or D1C1) as well as the preferreddevice (PD or D4C3), can be checked independently of each other. To dothis, the preferred device must be involved in an active conversation(D4C3=connected) in order for a consultation call to be initiatedsuccessfully. Otherwise, the requested CSTA Call Control Service isrejected.

Linking D1 and D4 as well as C1 and C3 enables further checks. Here D1is a desk phone, which is physically not busy, because the conversationis physically taking place on the device D4. This generates the problemthat, when there is a consultation call to D1, D1 is not busy and anactive conversation is required. D1 therefore accesses D4, D4 isinvolved in an active conversation, and a consultation call becomespossible. This means that respective checks for the Service can be madebecause of assigning D1 and D3 as well as C1 and C3.

Example

The described method can be used generally on existing types ofterminals. OpenScape Voice has SIP and SIP-Q, meaning that it covers amuch wider variety of terminal types.

FIGS. 7 and 9 are embodiments of the present invention. One NumberService from OpenScape Voice is possible for Call Control. Variousfunctions from the CSTA standard, Chapter 14, can be implemented. Class17 concerns Call Control.

Through this type of dynamic binding, i.e., through call-related dynamicbinding, the described method can also be used for other services andevent classes; see ECMA 269—applicable functions can be found in logicaldevice features or in CII-associated features.

If the preferred device is located in its own node, the method disclosedhere also allows parallel control of connection-related features on thepreferred device.

FIG. 10 shows the devices that are supported in OpenScape Office for theCallMe Service (Source: OpenScape Office).

If OpenScape Office does something, it must be checked only in SIP andSIP-Q, not the wide variety of terminal types that may exist inOpenScape Office. It compares to see which ONS devices and whichpreferred devices there can be.

The invention disclosed here is independent of any selected officenumber device (ONS) and preferred device (OND) and can therefore be usedin any combination of the devices described above.

The method described here can also be used for other CSTA Services andevent classes (e.g., logical device services and events).

Advantages of this invention include but are not limited to:

-   -   Better user control, simpler implementation algorithm        (attractive to manufacturers).    -   Office number device and preferred device are independent of        each other.    -   Simpler presentation layer: Using the modeling more to the right        in the figure, it is possible to achieve not only Call Control        but also Logical Device Services and the ability to do other        intelligent checks, as well as conversion by the smart data        storage and therefore linking.

It should be noted that the features of the invention described byreferencing the presented embodiments, such as CTI server, media server,control program, data structures, event reports (the type andconfiguration of the parameters, control commands, protocols, andhardware components used, the arrangement of individual componentsrelative to each other or the sequence of the respective method steps),can also be present in other embodiments or variations hereof, unlessstated otherwise or prohibited for technical reasons. The types andcombinations of features in individual embodiments do not necessarilyalways have to apply to all features of any related embodiment.

Abbreviations

-   ACD Automatic Call Distribution-   API Application Programming Interface-   CSTA Computer Supported Telecommunications Applications-   C1, C2, C3 Connection-   D1, D2, D3 (Subscriber) Device-   ECMA-269 Standard ECMA-269. Services for Computer Supported    Telecommunications Applications (CSTA) Phase III. 9th edition    (December 2011).-   FP Feature Processing-   f( . . . ) Function of . . .-   MS Media Server-   MGCP Media Gateway Control Protocol-   MLHG Multiple Hunt Group-   OND One Number Service Device-   ONS One Number Service-   OSCC OpenScape Contact Center-   OSMO Component of OSV-   OSO OpenScape Office-   OSV OpenScape Voice-   PSTN Public Switched Telephone Network-   SIP Session Initiation Protocol-   SIP-Q Networking protocol CorNet-NQ tunneled through SIP-   SST CSTA Service Single Step Transfer-   Trk 1, Trk 2 (network) Trunk-   UC Unified Communication application-   UCD Universal Call Distribution (ACD solution in OpenScape Office    and OpenScape Smart Office)

LIST OF FEATURE REFERENCES

-   10 Internal One Number Devices (ONDs)-   12 External ONDs-   12-1 External ONDs-   12-2 External ONDs-   12-3 External ONDs-   20 Telecommunication system-   22 Control program-   24 Client PC (laptop)-   26 ONS device (physical device)-   28 OND device (ONS device: “OND”)-   40 Call-   42, 42′ Devices-   44, 44′ Connections-   50 CSTA Event Report or data structure-   52 Field-   60 Event Report-   62 Field-   70 Second assignment-   72 First assignment-   74 Field-   76 Control Event Report-   90 Second assignment-   92 First assignment-   94 GSTA Call Control Event Report-   96 Field-   98 Field-   100 Telecommunication system-   102 Control program (sub-system)-   106 Connection-   108 Connection-   104 Subscriber IDs-   110 Media server-   112 Softswitch-   114 Terminal-   116 Connections-   118 Visited gateway-   120 PSTN-   122 Connections-   124 Visited gateway-   126 Softswitch-   128 Connections-   130 Second OSV softswitch

1-10. (canceled)
 11. A communication apparatus for establishing atelecommunication connection for a user to whom a first communicationterminal is assigned and to whom a second communication terminal isassignable, the apparatus comprising: a communication server having aprocessor communicatively connectable to non-transitory memory having acontrol program stored thereon; the communication server configured torun the control program via the processor to establish thetelecommunication connection, in which a piece of assignment informationis generated that defines a first assignment for the first communicationterminal defining an assignment of a second communication terminal tothe first communication terminal and a second assignment configured suchthat only the first communication terminal is identified as acommunication terminal the user is using for a telecommunicationconnection; the communication server configured to run the controlprogram via the processor such that the telecommunication connection isestablished via the communication server according to the assignmentinformation such that the second communication terminal is connected inthe telecommunication connection instead of the first communicationterminal via the first assignment while the first communication terminalis reported as being the only terminal used by the user in theestablished telecommunication connection via the second assignment. 12.The communication apparatus of claim 11, wherein the communicationserver is a Computer Telephony Integration (CTI) server.
 13. Thecommunication apparatus of claim 11, wherein the communication apparatusis a communication system that also comprises at least one of the firstcommunication terminal and the second communication terminal.
 14. Thecommunication apparatus of claim 13, wherein the communication systemcomprises both the first communication terminal and the secondcommunication terminal.
 15. The communication apparatus of claim 11,wherein the assignment information comprises a data structure thatdefines the first assignment for the first communication terminal,wherein in the first assignment the second communication terminal isdefined together with the first communication terminal.
 16. Thecommunication apparatus of claim 15, wherein the data structure definesthe second assignment, and wherein the second assignment defines onlythe first communication terminal as a calling device.
 17. Thecommunication apparatus of claim 15, wherein a first connection ID isdefined in the data structure for the first assignment, wherein thefirst connection ID is configured to facilitate making of a second callusing the second communication terminal for establishment of thetelecommunications connection, wherein a second connection ID is definedin the data structure in the second assignment, wherein the secondconnection ID indicates a first call made via only the firstcommunication terminal was performed for use in establishment of thetelecommunications connection even though the second communicationterminal is utilized in the telecommunication connection.
 18. Thecommunication apparatus of claim 11, wherein the control program isconfigured so the communication server attempts to initiate a first callto the first communication terminal and automatically initiates a secondcall to the second communication terminal based on the first assignment,wherein the second call appears in the control program as the first callto the first communication terminal based on the second assignment. 19.The communication apparatus of claim 18, wherein a first connection IDis defined in the first assignment, the first connection ID configuredto facilitate establishment of the second call using the secondcommunication terminal for establishment of the telecommunicationsconnection; and wherein a second connection ID is defined in the secondassignment, wherein the second connection ID is configured to indicatethat the first call was made via the user only using the firstcommunication terminal for establishment of the telecommunicationsconnection even though the second communication terminal is utilized inthe telecommunication connection.
 20. The communication apparatus ofclaim 14, wherein the first communication terminal comprises a physicalcommunication terminal and the second communication terminal is atelephone or a cell phone.
 21. The communication apparatus of claim 11,wherein the communication server is configured to carry out aComputer-Supported Telephony Applications (CSTA) Call Control Service inresponse to a command from the control program.
 22. The communicationapparatus of claim 21, wherein the first assignment defines the firstcommunication terminal together with a first connection ID as anexisting call and defines the first communication terminal together witha second connection ID as an initiated call; wherein the secondassignment defines a third connection ID as an existing call and afourth connection ID as an initiated call, the third and fourthconnection IDs being related to the first communication terminal andcorrespond to different calls.
 23. The communication apparatus of claim11, wherein the first assignment links the second communication terminalto the first communication terminal and the second assignment identifiesthe first communication terminal as only a single calling terminal usedby the user for establishment of the telecommunications connection. 24.The communication apparatus of claim 11, wherein the telecommunicationsconnection is a callback communication connection.
 25. A method forestablishing a telecommunication connection for a user to whom a firstcommunication terminal is assigned, via a communication sever, thecommunication server having non-transitory memory, a processor, and acontrol program stored on the memory that is executable by theprocessor, the method comprising: making available assignmentinformation via the communication server for establishing atelecommunication connection; the communication server defining a firstassignment in the assignment information for the first communicationterminal as specified by data received by the communication server, saidfirst assignment defining an assignment of a second communicationterminal to the first communication terminal, the assignment informationalso comprising a second assignment that is configured to identify thefirst communication terminal as a terminal in use by the user; andestablishing the telecommunication connection via the communicationserver according to the first assignment, wherein the telecommunicationconnection is established through the second communication terminalinstead of the first communication terminal via utilization of the firstassignment of the assignment information the first communicationterminal is reported to the control program as being the only terminalused by the user in the established telecommunication connection via thesecond assignment of the assignment information.
 26. The method of claim25, comprising: the communication server calling up a data structurethat defines the first assignment for the first communication terminal,wherein in the first assignment the second communication terminal isdefined together with the first communication terminal.
 27. The methodof claim 26, wherein the data structure defines the second assignment,and wherein the second assignment defines only the first communicationterminal as a calling device.
 28. The method of claim 27, wherein thefirst communication terminal comprises a physical communication terminalas specified by the user and the second communication terminal comprisesa preferred device, and wherein, when the communication server attemptsto initiate a first call to the physical communication terminal and thecommunication server automatically initiates a second call to thepreferred device, based on the first assignment, wherein the second callappears in the control program as the first call to the physicalcommunication terminal, based on the second assignment.
 29. The methodof claim 26, wherein the communication server carries out aComputer-Supported Telephony Applications (CSTA) Call Control Service inresponse to a command from the control program, wherein: the datastructure in the first assignment defines the first communicationterminal together with a first connection ID as an existing call anddefines the first communication terminal together with the secondconnection ID as an initiated call, wherein the data structure in thesecond assignment defines a third connection ID as an existing call anda fourth connection ID as an initiated call, and wherein the third andfourth connection IDs are related to the first communication terminaland correspond to different calls.
 30. A non-transitory machine-readablemedium comprising a computer program product that defines a methodperformed by a communication device that executes the computer programproduct, the method comprising: making available assignment informationvia the communication device for establishing a telecommunicationconnection; the communication device defining a first assignment in theassignment information for the first communication terminal as specifiedby data received by the communication device, said first assignmentdefining an assignment of a second communication terminal to the firstcommunication terminal, the assignment information also comprising asecond assignment that is configured to identify the first communicationterminal as a terminal in use by the user; and establishing thetelecommunication connection via the communication device according tothe first assignment, wherein the telecommunication connection isestablished through the second communication terminal instead of thefirst communication terminal via utilization of the first assignment ofthe assignment information the first communication terminal is reportedto a control program as being the only terminal used by the user in theestablished telecommunication connection via the second assignment ofthe assignment information.